New AL stream introduced from this year

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Education Ministry will introduce a new Advanced Level stream as the fifth stream from this year as a collaborative measure of three Ministries, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

Considering the present day world trends, Technology stream has been introduced and it will be the fifth stream of the Advanced Level. “The Advanced Level classes for those who have got through the Ordinary Level Examination 2012, have been scheduled to commence on June 15,” the Minister said.

“Four streams, Science, Mathematics, Commerce and Arts are taught at advanced levels at present. Every year around 350,000 students sit the Advanced Level examination and of them 25,000 are qualified to enter universities. Around 300,000 youths, who sit the examination following the four streams enter the job market annually,” he said.

“Eventhough, a greater number of these job seekers fail to be an employee since the four streams are not basically job oriented. Since these four streams are academic streams, students have to follow many other courses to obtain proficiency in various field available in the job market. Therefore, aiming to quench the huge demand in the job market, the technology stream was introduced, ‘Minister Gunawardena said.

“At the initial stage, the new stream will be available at 200 schools so as to cover every secretariat division and the amount will be expanded gradually. The education ministry will provide all facilities to schools at which technology stream is to be taught.

“Students need not to obtain credit passes for Science and Mathematics subjects to follow technology stream. Two simple passes for Science and Mathematics subjects together with three credit passes for other subjects are enough for following the new stream,” the Minister said.

The Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry are the three Ministries initiating the programme.

“More undergraduate courses will be implemented to the university system for those who follow the technology stream at advanced level. Accordingly, several new undergraduate courses are to introduced, such as, aeronautical engineering, agro - technology, robotic and much more aiming to meet present day trends and requirements in the higher education sector and moreover in the job market. Bachelor of Technology (B.tec) degree will be offered for university pass-outs, “ the Minister noted.

“Meanwhile, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry will open its doors for O/L and A/L drop-outs to obtain degrees in the technological sector. Students, who drop-out from O/L or A/L can follow vocational courses at technological institutions and obtain National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). They can continue this vocational training up to NVQ Level 7 that is equivalent to a degree,” he said.

“The Advanced Level is equivalent to NVQ Level 3. Hence, AL drop-outs can continue their studies from NVQ Level 4. Besides, students can obtain vocational and professional training from the university colleges, which are to be established in the future. The government will establish 20 university colleges while the private sector will establish five university colleges. Students following courses at university colleges can obtain degrees at a special university that has to be established,” the Education Minister said.